circa when

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "circa when" is not standard in written English and may sound awkward to some readers.
It can be used when asking for an approximate time or date related to an event, but it is more common to use "circa" alone with a date or year. Example: "Can you tell me circa when the project started?"

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

'At Circa, when a reader wants to follow a story he will be served with update notifications each time he reconnects to the app.

The Guardian - Tech

Circa when supermarkets replace Halloween candy with Christmas wreaths and laughing Santa statues, choirs around the country begin rehearsing Handel's "Messiah".

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

Could Azealia Banks be pitted against a hologram of Lil' Kim circa-when-she-was-black? Would you bother going to see Machine Gun Kelly, if there was the option of watching Biggie versus Pac… refereed by Big Pun… on the fucking Titanic, or something?

Vice

"When you look at the top-line performance you can quite easily point to a time circa 2000 or 2001 when the business had significantly more audience than it has now," Dickens told MediaGuardian.co.uk.

The Guardian

He also talks about an earlier epiphany circa 2010, when the Manics were travelling from Sweden to Denmark across the jaw-dropping Øresund bridge: an occasion when he had an "out of body experience", captured in the album's lead-off single Walk Me to the Bridge.

The Guardian - Music

He begins with a fine, disabused picture of Stratford circa 1564, when the poet was born.

The New Yorker

Trudie seemed to be channeling Jackie Kennedy circa November 1963 when she and Pete got on the Learjet.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

The time machine was set to circa 1976 when Jet performed at Roseland on July 10.

The New York Times - Arts

Maybe this indie twentysomething was on Myspace circa 2006, when it was de rigueur.

The Guardian - Opinion

The last time a change of this magnitude occurred was circa 1450, when Johannes Gutenberg invented movable type.

The New York Times - Books

Circa 1990, when I came out, the macho gay culture of the seventies seemed abject, the Judy Garland business antediluvian.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

While "circa when" is understandable, it's more common to use "circa" followed directly by a date or year. For example, instead of saying "circa when the event happened", say "the event happened circa 2000".

Common error

Avoid using "circa when" in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for more precise language or standard alternatives like "approximately when" or "around when" for clarity and professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "circa when" functions as an adverbial phrase introducing a question about an approximate time. While Ludwig AI indicates that the phrase is not standard, it appears in contexts where an estimation of time is needed.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Wiki

20%

Science

20%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "circa when" is used to ask about an approximate time, though Ludwig AI suggests it's not a standard English construction. While understandable, it is more common to use "circa" directly before a date or year, or to use alternatives like "approximately when" or "around when". Its usage appears mostly in news and media contexts, making it acceptable for general communication but less suitable for formal writing. Therefore, consider using alternative phrasing for enhanced clarity and formality.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

about when

A simplified version, using "about" to indicate approximation.

approximately when

Replaces "circa" with "approximately", providing a direct synonym for approximation.

roughly when

Uses "roughly" as a more casual synonym for "approximately".

around about when

Uses "around about" to convey a sense of imprecision regarding time.

close to when

Indicates that the time is near to a specific point, though not exact.

in the neighborhood of when

Employs a more descriptive phrase to indicate a time range.

in the vicinity of when

Similar to "in the neighborhood of", this emphasizes a close but inexact time.

in the region of when

Similar to "in the vicinity of", indicating a general time period.

give or take when

Adds an element of uncertainty, suggesting a slight variance in time.

in the ballpark of when

This phrase indicates an estimated time, commonly used in informal contexts.

FAQs

What does "circa" mean?

"Circa" means approximately or about. It is often used with dates to indicate that the exact date is unknown or uncertain. For example, "circa 1900" means around the year 1900.

Is it correct to say "circa when"?

While understandable, "circa when" is not the most standard construction. It's generally better to use "circa" directly before the date or period you are approximating, or to use alternatives like "approximately when" or "around when".

How can I use "circa" in a sentence?

Use "circa" before a date or year to indicate it's an approximation. For example, "The building was constructed circa 1850." Avoid using it as a direct substitute for "when".

What are some alternatives to saying "circa when"?

Alternatives include "approximately when", "around when", or "about when". The choice depends on the context and desired level of formality.